Switch mechanism



Oct. 12 1926.

Filed May 5. 1923 D. S. ANDREWS swITcH MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1/Nvf/vme'- Oa/vfua j A/vopfws ar Arromvfx Oct. 12 1926. 1,603,012

D. s. ANDREWS SWITQH MECHANIYSM Filed May s. ..1923 s sheets-sheet 2 /A/VEN roe n a/v/Mp .NDPHMS Arme/vtr Oct. 12,1926. "1,603,012

D. S. ANDREWS SWITCH MEGHANISM F1ed May 3, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Arme/mfOct. l2 1926-. I 1,603,012

` D. s. ANDREWS SWITCH MECHANISM Oct. 12', 1926.

D. S. ANDREWS SWITCH MECHANISM Filed May 3. 1923 G Sheets-Sheet 5 un @umNw n@ .wm

Arme/V514 Patented Oct. 12, 1926. l *d i 1,603,012

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD S. ANDREWS, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ANDREWS CRANE COR-PORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led May 3, 1923. Serial No. 636,297.

My invention relates to switch Inecha- XIII-XIII and XIV- XIVrespectively, nism, and particularly to mechanism for oper- Fig. 12. i55 ating the switches or' a conveyor which in- Fig. 15 is a diagram ofthe electrical wircludes the use of a ground track and an overingof theswitch system. head supporting track. The illustrated embodiment of myinven- The object or' said invention is to provide tion includes anoverhead main-track 1, one a switch mechanism of the above-described ormore switch-tracks 2 and an overhead 60 character which may be operatedin a simple switch 3, Fig. 1, all suitablv supported, as manner andwhich will function efliciently. for instance in this case, by "theroof-trusses The said invention consists oi' means here- 1 of abuilding.

inafter fully described and particularly set ln this case the saidtracks 1 and 2 conforth in the claims. sist of two I-beams5-5 suitablysupported, 65

More specifically my said invention conand which form a lateral guidewayfor the sists oi overhead and ground switch members roller 6 mountedupon the top of the traveland means for .simultaneouslv actuating ingcrane 7 of the system, all as shown in same .so as to permit thetravelingl conveyor Figs. 17 2A, 4; and 6. f member to take the desireddirection. The main-track is interrupted so as to pro- 70 The annexeddrawings and the followvide the main-track terminals lrand 1, and ing'description set forth in detail certain the switch-track?. terminatesadjacently to 20 vmeans embodying my invention, the disthe said terminal1.

closed means, however, constituting but one Supported upon twocross-beams 8 8 eX- oi' various mechanical ways in which the tendingbetween and supported by two ad- 75 principle ot the invention may beapplied. jacent trusses 11, are two parallel I-beams In said annexeddrawings: 9-9 which extend at right angles to and Fig. 1 represents aplan of a part of a are located above the overhead main and mono-railconveyor system embodying my switch-tracks, as shown in Fig. 5. and uponinvention. which are laid and secured the railslO-lO. 80 Fig. 2represents an elevation of such As shown in Fig. 1, the adjacent mainandsystein on the planes indicated by lines switch-track terminals lieVjust outside and II-II, Fig. 1. below the one supporting truss 1.

Fig. 3 represents a plan of the overhead Supported by rails 10-10 is aAswitchswitch, on an enlarged scale. carriage 11. provided with thewheels 12-12 B5 Fig. 4. represents a rear elevation of said running uponsaid rails and mounted on overhead switch on line IVIV Fig. 3, andbrackets 13-13 from which the main-frame Fig. 5 represents a sideelevation of same of the carriage is suspended, as shown in on line V-VFig. 3. Figs. 4.- and 5. y

Fig. 6 represents a vertical transverse de- This carriage has suitablysecured there- 90 tail section taken upon the plane indicated toamain-track section 14 and a switchby line VI-VI, Fig. 3. and viewed inthe track section 15 having runways of the direction indicated by thearrows. same cross-sectional form as the main and F ig. 7 represents aplan of the ground switch-tracks, and arranged so that by switch, madeon an enlarged scale. shifting this carriage upon its track the 95 Fig.8 represents la rear elevation of the main-track section may be alinedwith the said ground switch. main-track termin-als, or the* switch-trackFigs. 9, 10 and 11 represent detail sections section alined with the onemain-track tertaken upon the planes indicated by lines minal and theswitch-track terminal, as will 1XIX, X-X and XI-XI respectively, beunderstood and seen from an inspection 100 in Fig. 7. of Fig. 3. Y Y KFig. 12 represents a section taken upon Mounted upon the carriage is anelectric the plane indicated by line XII-XIF Fig. motor 16 secured towhose shaft and alined 7, on a still further enlarged scale. therewithis a worm 17, shown in dotted Figs. 13 and 14e represent sections takenlines in Fig. 4. This worm engages a worm- 105 upon` the planesindicated by `lines wheel 18 secured to a shaft 19 havingvits axisparallel with the main-track l, and journaled in bearings -2O mountedupon said carriage. To the two ends ot this shalt are secured the twocrank-arms 2l" 2l which articulate with the one end of connecting rods22-22 whose other ends are pivoted at 22 to anchor members EL-223,having` reduced ends 23 which are rigidly i'astened lo one ot the crossbeams 8 by nuts 231.

It will thus be seen that the rotation oil the motor-shatt by the motormay be made to drive the shalt i9, oscillate the crankarms 2l and shiftthe carriage upon its supporting.;` structure.

The carriage furthermore has secured thereto two spring-actuated andnormally closed limit-switches 24e and 25, suitably mounted, and adaptedto be engaged to open by a member 25 which is conveniently andadjustably fixed to one ot the rails l0, as shown in Figs. 3 and Saidmember is so adjusted upon said rail that the limitswitches will beoperated to break the motor circuit and stop the carriage at a point inits travel such as will bring the switch sections into proper alinementwith the main-track terminals or with the one main-track terminal andthe switch-track terminal, as the case may be and as will be readilyunderstood. The details ot the electrical connections will be furtherhereinafter described in connection with the wiring` diagram, Fig. l5.

rlhe main ground-track illustrated, con-- sists of two T-rails 26-26,Fig. 7, forming an intermediate runway tor the single central flange 27ot the supporting traction wheel Q8 of the crane 7, as shown in Fig, 2.

A suitable frog 29 is provided for this track and includes anoscillating' switchpoint 30 whereby the said wheel ma?.7 be switchedfrom the main groundtrack to the ground switch-track Si, as will bereadily understood itrom an inspection of Fig'. 7.

The tree end ot the switch-point lies in the vertical transverse planein which the terminal l and the terminal of the over head switch-track 2lie, so that when the proper -alinement ot the overhead switch sectionswith the overhead main or switchtracks, and a corresponding position o'ithe switch-point 30, are imparted, the guiding roller 6 and the tractionwheel 28 and hence the top and bottom of the crane, will besimultaneously diverted in the required and proper direction.

Mechanism 32 is provided for actuating the switch-point 30 including anelectric motor 33 whose connections will be later described but whichare ot a nature such that the operation ot the overhead andA groundswitch mechanisms wil be synchronlzed.

The mechanism 32 is preferably located in a pit 84 sunk below thefloor-level as shown in Fig. 8, and provided with a suitable cover (notshown).

rlhe motor 33 is mounted upon and suitably secured to a base 35 and hasits shaft 3o connected with a coaxial threaded shailt 37 whose threads38 engage the internal threads 39 Ot a cylindrical and tubular,cross-head it) provided with guiding-wheels L il runningupon paralleltracks fixed to a housing 43 mounted and suitably secured to said base35.

ilidably mounted upon the exterior ot such cross-head is a sleeve fili.,Figs. i2 and i3, provided with journals t, Fig. i3, set in bearings i6oit au oscillating yoke 47 pivoted upon a pin t8 mounted on the housingr4:3. 'lhe cross-head is provided with end ilaogreaneuibers Lief) andbetween these meml and the sleeve are located two helical 5th-50, one oneach side ot said 1,-he1d, as shown in Fie'. l2.

The upper end ot the yoke articulates with one end oi a connecting;l rod5l, whose other rnd articulates with the switch-point BO. as shown in 8.

The sha-it 37 is provided with 'flanges 52 seatel in tlnust-bearings 53iiXed to the housing' 43.

1ifi/'hen the motor is rotated, the cross-head i0 will be shifted andits motion transmit teiL to the sleeve le through the springs 50, herebyeffecting the movement ot the yoke 4i?. the connecting` rod 5l andswitchpoint 30.

To limit the movement ot these parts, two iixedly mounted springactuated and norn'uilly closed limit-switches --l and are provided whichmay be actuated by rods and 57 respectively, the latter beingoperated bytic Contact oit the wheels Lll with levers 58 and 59 respectively` whicharticulate with the ends ot these rods.

These switches are conveniently placed upon opposite sides ot themechanism, as shown in Fing. 7. rlhe two coiled siirine's permit thesleeve ill' to yield and thereby obviate the necessity of very tineadjustment oi' the levers 58 and 59 'for proper operation and preventionof breakage of pa 1ts.

rlbc arrangement and wiring` connections ot the motors, limitswitches,Vpush-lmttons and other electrical connections, is illustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. l5, and is as follows: i

its betere stated the motors i6 and 33 are mounted respectively upon theoverhead carriage il and the stationary base of the ground switchmechanism.

it main supply circuit L1, L2 is provided, one side oit which isconnected by the conductor lla with one ot the fixed switch-members a ota mairnetically-operated normally open switch in, the correr-monding`movable mem? ber s1 of which is connected, by means of the conductor L4,with one terminal of the armature of the motor 16. The other terminal ofsuch armature is connected by means of a conductor L5 with the movablemember s2 ol' the other switch-member of said switch S, the lixed member83 of which is connected by means or' a conductor L, with anaccelerating switch A, which is connected by means oil a conductor L7with the other side of the main circuit, as shown.

A conductor L8 connects conductor L3 with one oit the fixedswitch-members, t, of a second magnetically-operated normally openswitch T, and the corresponding movable member 251 is connected, bymeans of a conductor L9 with the conductor L5, and thus connected withthe motor 16 in the same manner as is the corresponding member of switchS.

A conductor L10 connects conductor LG with the other fixed member, t3,ot said switch T, the corresponding movable .member t2 of which isconnected with the conductor L1, as shown.

A starting resistance R :is connected in parallel with the acceleratingswitch A.

The switches S, T and` A are conveniently mounted upon the carriage l1,in a'box 60, Fig. 3, provided for that purpose, and surh describedconductorsas may be necessary, are made flexible so as to permit themovement ol said carriage without disrupting the circuit, all as will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art.

The field of the motor 16 is connected with the main circuit by means ofthe conductor L11 and the current flows through same always in the samedirection.

A push-button control-station 61 is vided and conveniently placed upon apillar or other support (not shown) placed in proximity to the path ofthe crane so that it may be reached by the operator from his cage on thecrane. f

This station is provided with three springactuated push-buttons,switches `62, 63 and 64; switches 62 and 63 being normally held in theiropen positions, and switch 64 in its closed position, bythese springs. Aconductor K leads from one terminal of switch 62 to the conductor L3,making connection with the one side L1 of the main circuit; and aconductor K1 connects the other side L2 of said circuit with oneterminal of the switch 64. The other two terminals of switches 62 and 64are connected with each other by conductor le. The two coils of themagnetically-operated switch S are connected in this last-describedcircuit, in parallel and the linut-switch 24 in series.

One terminal of a normally open switch U is connected with the oneterminal of switch 62 by means ol conductor K1, and the other terminalof switch U with the other proterminal of switch 62 as shown, byconductor K, and the movable member u of said switch U is actuated bythe movable member s1 of switch S.

A conductor K3 leads from one terminal of switch 63 to the conductor L3thus also making connection with the one side L1 of the main circuit,Athe other terminal oi' said switch 63 being connected to the other sideoi said main circuit, by means of conductor K1, switch 64 and conductor7c as shown. The two coils oll the switch T are connected in thislast-described circuit in parallel and the limit-switch 25 in series.

The. one terminal ott a normally open switch U1 is connected withconductor K3 and the other terminal with conductor K2 by means of aconductor K1. The movable member u1 oit switch U1 is actuated by themovable .member t2 of switch T.

A duplicate or' the above-described wiring system and parts is providedin parallel therewith for controlling the movement of the ground switch.This duplicate system includes the motor 33, switches S1, T1, U3, U1,starting resistance R1, accelerating switch A1, and the limit-switches54 and 55, as shown in the lower half of Fig. 15.

The operation ot the above-described mechanism is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the track-switches are in the positions shown inF igs. 3 and 7, in which positions the limit-switches 25 and 55 will beopen, since they will have been actuated by the switch-mechanism to soopen; and the limit-switches and 54 will be closed, since they arenormally closed and are not engaged by the mechanism to assume the openposition.

Switches S, S1, T and T1 are, under these conditions, open as well asare the switches U, U1, U3, U4, 62, 63 and the accelerating switch A.Switch 64 will be closed.

These described positions are those shown in Fig. 15.

When it is desired to of said track-switches, switch 62 is pressed. L1,L3, K, 7c, K1, L2 and the Switches S and S1 will close. The circuitthrough the armatures will thus be closed and the armatures rotated soas to shift the movable track-switch members. Then switches S and S1 areclosed switches U and U3 will also be closed, the push-button of switch62 may be released and the motor continue to operate, thus obviating thenecessity of keeping the switch 62 closed until the shifting movement ofthe track switches is completed.

When the track-switches have reached their proper and new positions, thelimitswitches 24 and 54, will be actuated to open, and switches S, S1, Uand U3 will automatically open, the motor-circuit broken and change thepositions the push-button of This closes circuit lll() Cri the motorsstopped. Limit-switches and will in the meantime have been automaticallyclosed.

lllhen the push-button switch G3 is closed switches "ll, '511, U1; 'U1'and fr are operated and tlie cui-rent through the armatures and hencethe direction oiI rotation ot the motors is reversed so that a movementot the track switches in the opposite dir ction may be obtained.

'lille switch (il rency to break motors.

lifhat l cla'rn is:

l. ln switch mechanism 'tor conveying' apparatus, the combination ot anoverhead tracli; a ground track; switches tor said overhead and groundtracks mounted to movel in a horizontal plane; and means 'forsimultaneously actuating` said switches.

2. ln switch mechanism tor conveying apparatus, the combination ot anoverhead track; a ground track; switches tor said overhead and groundtracks; and electrically-operated means for simultaneously actuatingsaid switches.

3. ln switch mechanism tor conifeyinp; apparatus, the conibination ot aswitch-earriage; a track-switch mounted thereon; an electricallyoperable motor mounted on the switch-carriage; means connected therewithtor actuating said switch-carriage; electrical connections tor actuatingsaid motor in either ot' the two opposite directions and including acircuit containing a magneticallyoperated motor switch member; astarting switch tor said circuit; and an auxiliary circuit containing aswitch-member operated by said motor switch-member to close said may beused in an emerthc circuit and stop the auxiliary circuit, whereby saidstarting,l switch may be disconnected and the operation ot saidmotor-switch continued.

Lt. ln switch mechanism tor conveying)` apparatus, the combination ot aswitch-carriage; a track-switch mounted thereon; an electrically7operable motor mounted on the switch-carriage; means connected therewithfor actuating said switch-carriage; electrical connections tor actuatingsaid motor in either ot its two opposite directions and including acircuit containing a magneticallyoperated motor-switch member; astarting` switch for said circuit; and an auxiliary switch-memberoperated by sai-d motorswitch member to close said auxiliary circuit;said starting switch being normally open and adapted to close upon beingreleased.

5. ln switch mechanism, the combination of a main-track; a switch-track;a carriage having; a main-track section and a switchtrack sectionmounted thereon and adapted to be moved so as to bring either ot saidtwo sections into alinement with the maintracl; a motor mounted uponsaid carriage; a lined anchor member; and connections between said motorand anchor member lor actuating` said carriage.

6. ln switch mechanism, the combination ot' a movable switch carriage;an anchor member; a motor mounted upon said carriage; a sha'tt driven bysaid motor; a crank fixed to said shaft; and a connecting` rodarticulating at one end with said crank and at the other end with saidanchor-member.

Signed by me this Qlth day ot April, 1923.

l). S. ANDREXVS

